‘Resolve, To Promote Instruction in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and the Use of an Automated External Defibrillator’

‘Sec. 1. Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education to assess availability and training in the use of automated external defibrillators. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention shall work with local, county and regional emergency response agencies to determine the availability of automated external defibrillators at community sports and recreation facilities and other venues for public events. The Department of Education shall work with the Department of Health and Human Services in an effort to inventory automated external defibrillators in school buildings and school athletic facilities. The Department of Education shall coordinate with the Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention to assess the inclusion of instruction in hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation as a component in health and physical education curricula.

The departments shall work with the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross and emergency response agencies to assess existing opportunities for training in the use of automated external defibrillators with particular attention to training for school personnel and students in middle school and high school; and be it further

Sec. 2. Department of Education to review health education curricula. Resolved: That the Department of Education shall solicit information on the teaching of hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of automated external defibrillators in Maine schools. The department, in consultation with members of the Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, shall consider the teaching of hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitations and the use of automated external defibrillators in alignment with the standards developed for assessing proficiency in health education, consistent with the standards of the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross; and be it further

Sec. 3. Reports to legislative committees. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Education shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs and the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety no later than January 15, 2012 on the availability of automated external defibrillators and training opportunities; and be it further

Sec. 4. Authority to submit legislation. Resolved: That the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs and the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety may each submit a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature relating to instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillators use.’